By Johnathan Paoli
The plight of illegal miners who are trapped underground in Stilfontein in the North West continues to worsen, with the death toll now standing at seven.
Two decomposed bodies were retrieved on Wednesday, and more are still feared underground.
A letter attached to one of the bodies reveals a grim reality of hunger, dehydration and illness.
The miners have pleaded for urgent intervention, emphasising the need for medical supplies and humanitarian aid.
“We are apologise (sic) to tell you about people who are dying in the mine. We have one person who is dead because of shortage of food, while some are lying down they have not responded. Please we need help, please take us out of this mine because the situation inside this mine is difficult,” it reads.
Since the recovery operation began, community volunteers have braved the psychological and physical challenges of bringing bodies to the surface.
They have requested additional ropes, saying that more equipment would speed up the process of retrieving the bodies and rescue those who are still alive, but are too weak to move.
In response to an interim court order, organisations such as the Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua) have stepped in to provide food and water for the miners.
Macua has delivered 26 boxes of mageu and 41 bottles of water.
However, the miners’ notes underscore the need for urgent medical attention for the sick and injured.
Despite the challenges, the Stilfontein community remains determined, with volunteers continuing their work.
The police reported that 26 miners resurfaced on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Meanwhile in Mpumalanga, rescue operations are underway after approximately 150 illegal miners became trapped inside an abandoned mine in Sabie.
Six miners have been rescued, but three lives have been lost.
The crisis came to light when a security patrol encountered four men fleeing the area.
The men revealed that they were being forced to mine for gold under dangerous conditions, raising suspicions that a criminal syndicate is involved.
Law enforcement and emergency teams, including the SAPS, Emergency Medical Services and private security firms, have launched a coordinated effort to rescue those still inside.
Acting provincial police commissioner Zeph Mkhwanazi said the rescue operations were fraught with difficulties due to the unstable shaft.
“All relevant stakeholders, including search and rescue teams, are currently at the scene and visibility in the area has been increased to ensure the safety of the community,” he said.
Mkhwanazi assured the public that efforts are ongoing and called for community cooperation as authorities worked to resolve the situation.
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